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Saturday, August 14, 2010

I sometimes wonder...

Arent these people beautiful? This is the whole G family...as in, my parentals on down to my youngest nephew. I sometimes wonder what I would do without these people. It wasn't easy growing up with them as my parents but that has nothing to do with them. My idea of easy was to have parents who didn't care what trouble I got into...and boy did they care. Time and time again, my parents have saved me. Time and time again, they remind me how great of a job I'm doing. My dad will randomly call to tell me what a great mother I am. And when I told him I was quitting my job at his office, he supported me. He always has.

I sometimes wonder what this kid will grow up to do. This is my one and only brother...youngest in the family and only one that my parents "picked" (as in, he's adopted). I wonder what he'll accomplish and how people will percieve him. He has special needs...and is a very special boy. But I still wonder. I know who he is and love him for the young man he is becoming but I hate when kids at school are mean to him. I'm very protective...because only I get to pick on this kid and get away with it. :)

I wonder the same thing about this special girl. I wonder what more she will surprise us with...since a few years back, she surprised us by letting us know that even though she can speak no words, she can read! This is my only younger sister. Not adopted. Autistic among other things. And boy is she special too. I wonder how much she understands and I believe the answer is A LOT. I used to wonder if her not speaking was just an act and imagine that someday she would just wake up speaking full sentences and say, "I fooled you guys!" But still to this day, that dream has not come true...and I doubt it ever will. But it is still fun to imagine. :)

I wonder how I got so lucky to have such wonderful siblings, the blonde one of whom is leaving for China next week for 9 months and then to California after that for who knows how many years. She's my best buddy (yeah!) and I'm sad to see her go. I'm trying not to put up a wall before she leaves (and takes my adorable nephew with her!). I'm trying to be happy for her...and not sad for me. And then there's the next older sister, second from the right, who has lived in Flagstaff for years now. We have a Valentine's date every year and she means the world to me. Her and I have had more problems than any other sister...probably because we are more alike. But our Valentine's day date is our way of keeping our relationship alive (or at least that is how I feel). And then there is my oldest sister, second from the left. She gave me my first nephew. And my second. And she gave my daughter her first best friend. And she's always been there with any mother problems I am having. She stays strong even though we have both had to work while our kids are growing up. Stronger and less whiney than I have been about the whole situation. And in one more week, we wont work together. And I feel like I'm deserting her. And yet, throughout this all, she is HAPPY for me. Truly, she is selfless and there is a lot I can learn from her. Because I tend to get pretty selfish. A lot.

I have a pretty awesome family. I wonder where we will be in 10 years and yet, I have no doubt the answer will have something to do with happiness because of the great things we are all accomplishing in our lives. I love having so many sisters...and I love my spoiled, silly brother. :) My parents created a great dynamic for us and I wouldn't trade these people for the world.